In Phuentshogling, fuel smuggling has been rampant for years. Now, authorities are stepping in to monitor the issue. Just last month, Indian police in Jaigaon arrested around 15 individuals for using modified vehicles to smuggle fuel across the border. The smugglers mostly relied on enlarged fuel tanks and frequent trips between Bhutan and India to carry out the illegal trade.
Once bustling fuel stations in Phuentshogling now stand eerily quiet, with only a handful of vehicles seen refuelling.
One depot reported a drop from daily sale of 11,000 litres of petrol to just 6,000 litres. Another station noted sales plunging from over 5,000 litres a day to around 3,000.
Fuel prices in Bhutan are comparatively lower, with an average price difference of over Nu 40.
Novin Gurung, an associate manager of Druk Petroleum Corporation in Phuentshogling said “After a strict security, their visits have become less compared to the past few months. Ultimately, sales of all the depots here have decreased. This is because most of our customers are Indian vehicles so without them, our sales decline.”
Police in Jaigaon say their operation targets not only vehicles with modified tanks but any vehicle suspected of involvement in the smuggling ring.
A special team has been formed to root out the illegal activity.
Phuentshogling Dungkhag officials said that storing fuel illegally can pose risks including fire hazards.
Karma Jurmi, Phuentshogling Dungpa said “We have no issues with our neighbouring friends fueling here because we value the strong ties between Bhutan and India. However, I think it’s time for us to come up with a solution to stop these illegal activities. Until now, we, the relevant office could not come together to discuss this, but I think now we should.”
Sources said fuel smuggling is mostly carried out using bikes and light vehicles, with some vehicles reportedly shuttling through the border gate up to 15 times a day.
According to sources, the crackdown by Jaigaon police began after an Indian fuel depot lodged a complaint about declining sales and the rise of illegal cross-border fuel trade.
Meanwhile, a Bhutanese man has also been recently detained by Indian police after he was found with a modified chamber in the carrier of his vehicle to transport fuel.
Kinley Dem, Phuentshogling
Edited by Tshering Zam
